Written Answers

Thursday 7 September 2000

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to remove the annual groundwater maintenance charge of £123 per farmer.

Sarah Boyack: We do not propose to ask the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to waive the annual charge under the Groundwater Regulations 1998. It remains our policy that SEPA should move towards full recovery of the costs of regulation in line with the polluter pays principle.

  At £123, the annual charge, which covers the cost of periodic inspections for monitoring purposes, is considerably lower than originally proposed during public consultation on the Groundwater Regulations. A number of special arrangements have, nevertheless, been made in Scotland to ease the burden of the Groundwater Regulations. Smaller farmers and crofters can share one set of charges by working collectively to dispose of spent sheep dip, thus reducing substantially the amount they pay each year. The annual charge was also waived in Scotland in 1999-2000 while SEPA determined the first tranche of applications.

Agriculture

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it held over the Parliament’s summer recess with representatives of the National Farmers Union of Scotland and what issues were discussed.

Ross Finnie: I met representatives of the National Farmers’ Union of Scotland on 10 occasions in various locations throughout the country over the summer recess. The main topics discussed were support for Less Favoured Areas and the development of an agricultural strategy.

Agriculture

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many accidents have been reported to have occurred on farms in the last five years in (a) the whole of Scotland and (b) the Angus area.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for the Health & Safety Executive.

Cancer

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to achieve 20% fewer deaths from cancer in the under 75s by 2010.

Susan Deacon: Improvements in survival from cancer are already evident. For example, five-year survival from breast cancer is now 75%, compared to 66% in the 1980s. Cervical cancer incidence and deaths have been reduced by 34% since 1986. In men with testicular cancer, more than 90% are alive after five years. These improvements reflect better treatment as well as earlier diagnosis for most cancers.

  A great deal of work is under way to achieve the target set in Towards a Healthier Scotland. Health boards are working in partnership with other agencies to promote healthy lifestyles in relation to diet and nutrition, smoking cessation and physical exercise, all of which have been shown to reduce the risk of cancer. A range of measures are in place to raise awareness and to encourage people to recognise symptoms and seek early advice.

  More generally, the Executive have made clear our continuing commitment to the Scottish breast and cervical screening programmes, a pilot programme of colorectal cancer screening, the introduction of cancer Managed Clinical Networks underpinned by planned programmes of audit and quality assurance, SIGN Guidelines, the development and monitoring of clinical standards through the Clinical Standards Board and the establishment of additional one-stop clinics to reduce waiting times for cancer diagnosis and treatment.

  The work of the Scottish Cancer Group will continue to inform policy and investment decisions and provide a strategic framework for the development of cancer services across Scotland. With regard to prevention, the focus now being placed on public health, including the creation of a Public Health Institute for Scotland, will help to drive further improvements in lifestyle and life circumstances which will help to reduce the incidence of cancer in future.

Careleavers

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what detailed plans it has for the implementation of the transfer of funds for people under 18 leaving local authority care from the Department of Social Security to local authorities.

Mr Sam Galbraith: We are currently reviewing throughcare and aftercare arrangements for careleavers, including the best use of resources to be transferred from DSS. I have sent up a working group with representatives from local authorities, relevant public agencies and voluntary bodies who can speak for young people themselves to give me advice on how to improve current arrangements.

Crofting

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions its Rural Affairs Department has had with the Scottish Crofter’s Union regarding the forthcoming crofting reform legislation.

Ross Finnie: The department regularly meets with senior representatives from the Scottish Crofters Union and is doing so again today. At three meetings within the last three months crofting reform issues were discussed. The SCU are also members of the Crofting Consultative Panel. Their views are therefore sought on the full range of measures which might be included in any future crofting legislation.

Elderly People

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to provide specialist units, similar to those proposed by the Secretary of State for Health, for elderly patients between general hospital and residential care.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive recognises that modern acute hospital care for elderly patients must be supported by rehabilitation that meets individual need. This position was set out clearly in the report of the Acute Services Review, which identified the value of initiatives designed to provide support and rehabilitation at home immediately following discharge, and also revalue of both – acute rehabilitation for older people with more complex needs. Our work on modernising the NHS in Scotland provides a context in which to build on such developments and further strengthen the links between acute and primary care in the interests of older patients. This approach to the concept of intermediate care takes account of Scottish circumstances and innovations in the pursuit of high quality and cost-effective care designed to maintain access to acute services for older people and at the same time maximise their subsequent independence.

Elderly People

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it intends to take to ensure that the economic and social contribution which older people make to society is recognised and valued by the public.

Iain Gray: Older people have demonstrated that age is no barrier to enriching our society. The Scottish Executive is determined to remove barriers and negative attitudes towards older people. We are working to put in place policies which will help older people play their full part in our society, extending opportunities to work, learn and volunteer, improving health care, providing more transport choice and making public services more responsive. We have been listening to older people and what we have heard will help guide our policies in the future.

Enterprise

Mr Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Executive is promoting Scotland’s semiconductor industry.

Donald Dewar: The Executive recognises that the semiconductor industry is extremely important to the Scottish economy. Our comprehensive programme for promoting the industry has resulted in Scotland enjoying the largest concentration of semiconductor plants in Europe.

  Scottish Enterprise has identified semiconductors as one of its key clusters and has, for example, provided £25 million of support to the world leading Alba Centre, based in Livingston. This is in addition to just under £20 million of Regional Selective Assistance from the Executive.

  The announcement earlier this week of Motorola’s major research and development centre in Livingston, creating 550 new jobs, shows that the industry in Scotland continues to move forward.

European Funding

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits will flow from the adoption by the European Commission of its proposals for Objective 3 funding.

Mr Jack McConnell: The approval of the Objective 3 programme will make some £312 million of EU funding available in Scotland during 2000-06. These funds will be used to improve employment opportunities by co-financing vocational training and other actions to enhance the skills of employed and unemployed people, particularly those facing exclusion from the labour market.

Forestry

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its finalised Scottish Forestry Strategy will set out a strategic approach for the transportation of timber in those areas where neither rail nor coastal shipping are available options.

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its finalised Scottish Forestry Strategy will contain practical proposals to promote the increased use of wood and timber brash as fuels in order to reduce net carbon emissions.

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its finalised Scottish Forestry Strategy will contain practical proposals for the protection and investigation of archaeological sites within existing forests and proposed new plantations and how it plans to ensure that forest owners and forest contractors notify the relevant authorities of archaeological discoveries.

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its finalised Scottish Forestry Strategy will set out clear mechanisms to enable opportunities to be provided for people who live in well forested areas to take up forestry employment using modern, efficient equipment, and whether any such mechanisms will include proposals for training and for selling timber in ways which give sufficient continuity of work to allow local contractors to invest in machinery.

Mr John Home Robertson: We expect to publish our Scottish Forestry Strategy in the autumn. We are still working on the strategy, taking account of all the points that have been raised during the consultation process, and so it is not possible to give precise details about the content of the final version. The strategy will be our framework for taking forestry forward in Scotland. It will therefore not include detailed implementation plans or mechanisms for any particular aspects, but it will include indicators of progress. Our achievements will depend, in part, on the resources that are available, but specific commitments will be given in other documents, such as the Forestry Commission’s Corporate Plan and the action plan for the forestry industries’ cluster that is being developed by Scottish Enterprise and the Forest Industries Development Council, as well as individual forest plans.

  Nevertheless, our draft strategy, which I issued for consultation earlier this year, covered all these issues. Indeed, the draft specifically identified developing the timber transport infrastructure, developing products that meet market needs, the expansion of well designed production forests, securing investment in wood processing, creating wider employment opportunities, and tackling deer problems as priorities for action. The draft also recognised the importance of protecting archaeological sites and transforming plantation forests; the Forestry Commission already provides detailed guidance on both of these issues in its publications.

Forestry

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the preferred areas identified by local authorities in their indicative forestry strategies are sufficient to enable new planting to be doubled over the next 20 years.

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to examine the implications which doubling forestry planting over the next 20 years will have for other forms of agricultural land use and whether it will make any such assessment public.

Mr John Home Robertson: About 10,000 hectares of new woodland is created in Scotland each year. We have no plans to double this rate of new planting. Should we wish to consider such a change to our current programme we would, of course, examine the implications for other forms of agricultural land use and for the environment before making any changes.

  The indicative forestry strategies published during the 1990s identified over 850,000 hectares of land as preferred for new planting; this is more than sufficient for the current rate of planting of about 10,000 hectares per year. The Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations have been fully implemented; under these regulations the need for an assessment is established on a case-by-case basis.

Forestry

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its finalised Scottish Forestry Strategy will set targets for (a) the planting and re-planting of timber, (b) the maintenance or expansion of wood processing capacity in Scotland and (c) the output and export of timber and timber products.

Mr John Home Robertson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-9098.

Forestry

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the potential for (a) natural woodland regeneration and (b) all forms of timber planting to contribute to carbon sequestration as part of its programme for combating climate change.

Mr John Home Robertson: We have estimated that, if planting continues at its current level, trees and forests in Scotland will absorb about 400,000 tonnes of carbon each year. Obviously the amount of carbon absorbed would increase if the area planted increased. We are continuing to investigate carbon sequestration by trees, and the Forestry Commission is studying how different forms of forest management affect the amount of carbon absorbed by a forest. Nevertheless, reducing carbon emissions in the first place remains our main priority.

Forestry

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its finalised Scottish Forestry Strategy will include detailed implementation plans for promoting the transformation of plantation forests and bringing deer densities down to optimum levels.

Mr John Home Robertson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-9098.

Forestry

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will identify any estimated costs of the Scottish Forestry Strategy which are built into the figures published in Investing in You , the Annual Expenditure Report of the Scottish Executive, and the budgets from which these costs will be met.

Mr John Home Robertson: Our Annual Expenditure Report contains information about our current expenditure on forestry programmes. Any additional expenditure arising from the Scottish Forestry Strategy will be included in future reports.

Forestry

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the current planning regime for forestry.

Sarah Boyack: We have no plans to review the planning regime for forestry.

Forestry

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 (SSI 1999/43) have now been fully implemented and whether the doubling of forestry planting envisaged in its draft Scottish Forestry Strategy will be the subject of an environmental impact assessment on a Scottish or regional scale, or whether it intends that each plantation will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Mr John Home Robertson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-9102.

Forestry

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much current grant aid it intends to redirect towards Forest Habitat Networks and what the implications will be for those sectors which will lose grant aid.

Mr John Home Robertson: One of the priorities for action identified in the draft Scottish Forestry Strategy was to extend and enhance native woodland by developing Forest Habitat Networks. Assuming that this is included in the final strategy, the Forestry Commission will use the Woodland Grant Scheme to encourage landowners to contribute to developing such networks. The value of the grants awarded would depend on the number, size and quality of the applications received. If the total of all the grants for approved applications under the Woodland Grant Scheme exceeds the budget in any one year, some applicants will be asked to accept payments in future years.

Health

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial arrangements are in place to assist NHS patients who are required to travel outwith their own health board area for treatment.

Susan Deacon: There are currently two Patients’ Travelling Expenses Schemes. A non-means tested Highlands and Islands Scheme for patients resident or working in the former Highlands and Islands Development area and a means tested scheme for the rest of the country.

  Under the Regulations patients, and where considered medically necessary their escorts, are reimbursed, either fully or partially, their travelling expenses. In addition the cost of unavoidable overnight expenses can be reimbursed if the health board is satisfied that an overnight stay is in practice unavoidable.

  Health boards also have discretion to reimburse the travel costs and unavoidable overnight expenses of patients not eligible for assistance under the statutory travel schemes when this is viewed as an extension to patients’ treatment costs and is deemed to be clinically necessary.

Health

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that any evidence exists of age discrimination in the NHS in Scotland.

Iain Gray: Christine Grahame has drawn attention in her motion S1M-1116 to a number of reports on the subject. These continuing allegations of discrimination within the NHS on grounds of age are a source of concern. The Scottish Executive is clear that clinical decisions must not be taken solely on the basis of an individual’s chronological age.

Health Boards

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the job description and salary, for the current financial year, of the Chief Executive of Greater Glasgow Health Board.

Susan Deacon: The job description and salary of the Chief Executive is a matter for the local health board. This information is not held centrally. The information requested is available from Greater Glasgow Health Board by writing to the Chairman, Sir Robert Calderwood at the board’s headquarters, Dalian House, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, G3 8XQ. The board’s Annual Report for 1999-2000, which will be circulated to local MSPs, will contain information on the Chief Executive’s salary for the current financial year.

Health Boards

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the job description and salary, for the current financial year, of the Director of Commissioning for Greater Glasgow Health Board.

Susan Deacon: The information requested is not held centrally. Mr Martin may wish to write direct to the Chief Executive, at the board’s Headquarters, Dalian House, 350 St Vincent Street, Glasgow, G3 8XQ for the information.

Information Technology

Elaine Thomson (Aberdeen North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to remove barriers and increase access to information technology and the internet for disabled people.

Peter Peacock: Providing services which suit the needs of the entire community, including disabled people, is part of our commitments to universal Internet access and all government services being online by 2005.

Local Government Finance

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5685 by Mr Jack McConnell on 30 June 2000, whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre a copy of the detailed calculations of non-housing capital expenditure for each year from 1997-98 to the present, for each local authority, including South Ayrshire Council.

Mr Jack McConnell: A paper detailing formulae allocations for each local authority since 1997-98 has today been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. The information should be read in conjunction with the detailed answer to question S1W-5685, which is also available from the SPICe.

Museums

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what payments it has made to (i) industrial heritage museums, (ii) national museums and (iii) other museums in each of the last three years and whether it will specify which payments were made to which establishment and whether such payments were made for a designated purpose.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The information requested is in the attached table.

  


Organisation


1997-98


1998-99


1999-2000




National Museums of Scotland


Grant-in-aid


£10,764,000


Grant-in-aid


£16,613,000


Grant-in-aid


£15,632,000




Scottish Maritime
Museum








Help with running costs


£55,000


Help with consultancy


£15,000




Scottish
Mining
Museum














Running costs


£85,000



















Consultancy report


£15,000

Museums

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its announcement of 16 June 2000 that additional funding is to be allocated to the Scottish Mining Museum at Newtongrange, what conditions of funding have to be met in order for this funding to be granted.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The Scottish Executive grant of £90,000 over six months announced on 16 June was awarded to support the running costs of the Scottish Mining Museum. The museum could not cover the costs from other sources and the grant was to allow the working group to consider its review of the long-term future of the Scottish Mining Museum. It is channelled through the Scottish Museums Council and is subject to the usual conditions of scrutiny of grants.

Museums

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in the light of its decision on funding the Scottish Mining Museum, whether it will consider giving financial assistance to Dunaskin Industrial Heritage and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The Executive has already advised the Dunaskin Industrial Heritage Museum that it will not provide resources to keep the museum financially viable. In supporting the Scottish Mining Museum, we made it clear that the resources were given in exceptional circumstances and should not be seen as setting a precedent by any other museums or the Scottish Mining Museum. The pressures in the museums and galleries sector were recognised in the National Cultural Strategy and further detailed consideration is being given to them.

NHS Funding

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of their annual capital depreciation each NHS Trust’s formula capital allocation for the financial year ended 31 March 2000 represents.

Susan Deacon: A Trust’s annual capital depreciation charge is calculated on the estimated working lives of assets and formula capital allocation is only part of a Trust’s potential capital investment, as a result, it is not possible to draw a meaningful comparison between the two in isolation.

NHS Modernisation

Mr John McAllion (Dundee East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the organisation and structure of the NHSiS.

Susan Deacon: The Executive is committed to a programme for modernising the NHS in Scotland. As part of that programme we are keen to ensure that systems, structures and governance arrangements are in place which support the delivery of modern, patient-centred care. We are currently examining issues of governance and accountability within the health care system and any proposals for change are likely to be included in the forthcoming Scottish Health Plan.

NHS Trusts

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the deficit of each NHS Trust was at 31 March 2000.

Susan Deacon: The information requested is as follows:

  


Trust


I&E Account Surplus/ 
(Overspend) Year End 2000
(£000)




Argyll and Clyde Acute Hospitals 
NHS Trust


-3,521




Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Primary 
Care NHS Trust


-1,518




Lomond and Argyll Primary Care NHS 
Trust


188




Ayrshire and Arran Acute Hospitals 
Trust


588




Ayrshire and Arran Primary Care NHS 
Trust


373




Borders General Hospital NHS Trust


185




Borders Primary Care NHS Trust


44




Dumfries and Galloway Acute and Maternity 
Hospitals NHS Trust


473




Dumfries and Galloway Primary Care 
NHS Trust


155




Fife Acute Hospitals NHS Trust


553




Fife Primary Care NHS Trust


656




Forth Valley Acute Hospitals NHS 
Trust


459




Forth Valley Primary Care NHS Trust


27




Grampian Primary Care NHS Trust


733




Grampian University Hospitals NHS 
Trust


-2,553




Greater Glasgow Primary Care NHS 
Trust


567




North Glasgow University Hospitals 
NHS Trust


-8,706




South Glasgow University Hospitals 
NHS Trust


-2,263




The Yorkhill NHS Trust


96




Highland Acute Hospitals NHS Trust


-808




Highland Primary Care NHS Trust


79




Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust


407




Lanarkshire Primary Care NHS Trust


686




Lothian Primary Care NHS Trust


1,167




Lothian University Hospitals NHS 
Trust


30




West Lothian Healthcare NHS Trust


-543




Tayside Primary Care NHS Trust


743




Tayside University Hospitals NHS 
Trust


-10,146




TOTAL


-21,849




  Source: These figures are taken from the Trusts’ audited accounts.

Organ Transplants

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7963 by Susan Deacon on 13 July 2000, what the nature is of the nurses’ training in the cardiac transplant unit at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7963 by Susan Deacon on 13 July 2000, what the nature is of the training for the three surgeons in the cardiac transplant unit at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

Susan Deacon: All three surgeons have spent periods of training in transplant centres in the past and therefore have some experience of heart transplantation. The purpose of the latest training, tailored to each surgeon’s needs, is to provide an update on recent developments in the techniques used in the assessment of patients for surgery, in the surgery itself and in the ongoing post-operative surveillance and immunosuppression treatment which is so critical to the success of transplantation surgery.

  In parallel, a number of nursing staff are also attending the Freeman Hospital to undertake refresher or additional training to ensure skills are maintained or enhanced.

Poverty

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in relation to the recommendation in the recent report on poverty in Scotland by the Select Committee on Scottish Affairs that a separate database to assist in the collection of statistics on poverty be developed in Scotland and what representations it has made to Her Majesty’s Government on the development of such a database.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive is currently developing a database of poverty related information for Scotland with assistance from the DSS and Inland Revenue. It is considering a wide range of currently available data sources in addition to the option of boosting existing surveys for Scotland, and introducing new data collections. A project is currently underway to investigate the possibility of using the Scottish Household Survey dataset to produce relevant analysis. An area of priority within the Executive is to develop a more comprehensive range of local area data. Information on poverty will be covered by this initiative.

Poverty

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in relation to the recommendation in the recent report on poverty in Scotland by the Select Committee on Scottish Affairs that specific Scottish statistics be kept for all relevant matters reserved to Her Majesty’s Government and what representations it intends to make to Her Majesty’s Government in pursuit of this matter.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive is involved in ongoing discussions about the full range of statistics relevant to poverty issues in both reserved and devolved matters with a range of Whitehall departments including the DSS, Inland Revenue and HM Treasury. A number of datasets, analysis and models have already been developed for Scotland in the past year with their assistance, and a number of further projects are currently being considered.

Poverty

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in relation to the recommendation in the recent report on poverty in Scotland by the Select Committee on Scottish Affairs that the present postcode area level information on benefit claimants be replaced with smaller area level information and what representations it intends to making to Her Majesty’s Government in pursuit of this matter.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive is currently reviewing all local area statistics for Scotland. We are in discussion with data users and the DSS, in order to identify the range of needs, and to assess what level of information is available.

Poverty

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in relation to the recommendation in the recent report on poverty in Scotland by the Select Committee on Scottish Affairs that it should consider introducing and financing a remote living allowance to compensate for the higher costs of living in remote or island communities and whether it intends to act upon this recommendation.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive provides for the additional costs to councils serving remote and dispersed rural and island communities through special measures in the local government finance distribution formula. Adjustments redistribute around £40 million of grant support towards rural councils each year, helping to meet additional service costs and hold down council tax levels. Additional assistance, totalling over £24 million this year, is provided through the Special Islands Needs Allowance to compensate councils with significant islands costs. A review of the level and distribution of SINA is due to be completed this year.

  In addition, the Executive is providing record levels of support for lifeline air and ferry services and through the Rural Transport Fund, £14.6 million in new investment over three years from 1998-99 to improve transport links in rural Scotland.

Poverty

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in relation to the recommendation made by Energy Action Scotland to the Select Committee on Scottish Affairs during its investigation into poverty in Scotland that a detailed cost/benefit analysis of the impact on Scottish households of living in cold damp homes versus warm, dry and healthy homes be carried out.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive has commissioned a pilot evaluation of the health and other benefits of home insulation and central heating.

Poverty

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in relation to the recommendation in the recent report on poverty in Scotland by the Select Committee on Scottish Affairs that it should conduct a review into fuel poverty and energy efficiency in Scotland and whether it intends to act upon this recommendation.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Department of Trade and Industry is leading an inter-departmental Ministerial Group on Fuel Poverty to develop a long-term strategy for tackling the problem. The work of the group covers Scotland and the Executive is represented by the Deputy Minister for Local Government. The strategy will be published later this year.

Poverty

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in relation to the recommendation in the recent report on poverty in Scotland by the Select Committee on Scottish Affairs that it might "wish to develop the effectiveness of money advice services which are delivered into Scotland’s poorer communities" and whether it intends to act upon this recommendation.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive is committed to improving the effectiveness of money advice services in Scotland’s deprived communities. We are working with relevant organisations on how best a national debtline for Scotland can be implemented to provide access to free, quality money and debt advice.

Poverty

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in relation to the recommendation in the recent report on poverty in Scotland by the Select Committee on Scottish Affairs that local authorities in Scotland should keep debt management strategies for dealing with people who encounter debt problems and whether it intends to act upon this recommendation.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive is discussing with CoSLA how the money and debt advice services provided by local authorities in Scotland can be improved.

Poverty

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in relation to the recommendation in the recent report on poverty in Scotland by the Select Committee on Scottish Affairs that a record of subsequent developments in the working lives of New Deal participants should be placed in the public domain and whether it intends to make representations to Her Majesty’s Government in pursuit of this matter.

Henry McLeish: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which therefore takes the lead on the funding and delivery of New Deal throughout Great Britain, although in close consultation with its partners, including the Scottish Executive.

  The New Deal evaluation programme is carrying out detailed monitoring of the post-New Deal experience of a sample of individuals. We are committed to a continuous improvement strategy for New Deal and the Scottish New Deal Advisory Task Force are actively monitoring performance and progress.

Prison Service

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the review of medical services in the Scottish Prison Service which was carried out over the summer of 1999.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows;

  The Scottish Prison Service does not intend to publish their review, as it is an internal management document containing commercially confidential information.

Prison Service

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will direct the Scottish Prison Service to make available secure facilities in every prison for the materials and equipment used by the Association of Visiting Committees for Scottish Penal Establishments.

Mr Jim Wallace: No. While space within establishments is at a premium, the association will in most cases continue to have available facilities which are shared with other uses.

Prison Service

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Association of Visiting Committees for Scottish Penal Establishments is independent from the Scottish Prison Service.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Association of Visiting Committees for Scottish Penal Establishments is, and has been since its creation in 1988, independent of the Scottish Prison Service. Although funded by SPS, the association is wholly separate from it, and its members are appointed by individual visiting committees to represent their interests.

Prison Service

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what are the statutory duties of the Association of Visiting Committees for Scottish Penal Establishments.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Association of Visiting Committees for Scottish Penal Establishments has no statutory duties.

Prison Service

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how often the Association of Visiting Committees for Scottish Penal Establishments has been consulted on issues relating to prisons since 1 June 1999 and on which issues.

Mr Jim Wallace: The association is consulted regularly by the Scottish Prison Service on visiting committee matters. It may also from time to time be consulted on matters that may affect or be of interest to its constituent visiting committees such as the Scottish Prison Service’s review of its estate.

Prison Service

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners escaped whilst in transit (a) between court and prison and (b) between prisons in each of the last three years broken down by (i) police force area and (ii) local authority area.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  Only one prisoner has escaped from Scottish Prison Service custody while in transit between court and prison in the last three years; this took place earlier this year. The incident took place in Strathclyde police force area, and in East Renfrewshire local authority area. There have been no escapes of prisoners in transit between prisons during the last three years.

Public Sector Pay

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what immediate plans it has to address the grievances of public sector workers following the Unison-led day of action.

Mr Frank McAveety: Local authority pay is matter for the local authorities and unions to resolve. The Executive has no representation in these negotiations.

Roads

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether current modal studies on the M8 corridor include park and ride rail facilities.

Sarah Boyack: Yes.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give full details of the extent and consequences of the reported problems with this year’s Standard Grades awards.

Mr Sam Galbraith: I made a statement to the Parliament yesterday on these matters.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering asking the Scottish Qualifications Authority to return marked examination scripts to schools and further education establishments.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The Scottish Qualifications Authority has had under consideration for some time the issues which would be involved in a decision whether to take such action in future years.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when Ministers last met representatives from the Scottish Qualifications Authority and what issues were discussed.

Mr Sam Galbraith: I have been in frequent contact with the Chairman and Chief Executive of the Scottish Qualifications Authority over recent weeks. In the period since the issue of examination results on 9 August, discussion has focused on how to remedy as quickly and effectively as possible the problems which have affected a proportion of candidates and on setting in hand analysis of the causes of the problems in order to ensure that they do not recur in future.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications are for access to higher education institutions of the recent problems within the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service reported yesterday that the number of applicants from Scotland admitted to universities in the United Kingdom was 2.6% higher than at the same point in the admissions process in 1999. This implies that the substantial efforts to avoid negative consequences for candidates affected by examination problems have been effective.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Kay Ullrich (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that the situation in respect of this year’s Standard Grade and Higher results is not repeated next year.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The Scottish Executive has appointed Deloitte and Touche to undertake an independent study of the entire process this year from the point at which assessments or initial examination markings were passed to the Scottish Qualifications Authority to the issue of examination results. We have also brought forward the quinquennial Policy and Financial Management Review of the Scottish Qualifications Authority due in 2002 to enable us to examine, in particular, its structure and functions and its accountability to Ministers. The Scottish Executive has also agreed to the request by the interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Qualifications Authority that a senior official of the Executive should participate in the internal review which he has set in hand. Separate from consideration of the problems which have arisen with the issue of examination results, we announced in March 2000 that there would be a review of all aspects of experience of the first year of implementation of Higher Still and that review has begun.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils in Dumfries and Galloway have received incorrect or incomplete notification of their Standard Grade or Higher results.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The administration of the examinations is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). However they have informed me that there were 242 review cases at higher level, and 119 at standard grade. All of which have been resolved.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministerial approval was given for the appointment of Bill Morton as the interim chief executive of the Scottish Qualifications Authority, and if so, which minister(s) gave the approval.

Mr Sam Galbraith: Under the Education (Scotland) Act 1996, the appointment of any replacement for the first Chief Executive is a matter for the Board of the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Mrs Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Advanced Higher course materials expected in June will be delivered to schools.

Mr Sam Galbraith: SQA have already published the majority of National Assessment Bank (NAB) materials for the highest priority subjects. The Higher Still Development Unit will be writing to schools and colleges immediately to clarify the situation and explain arrangements for the issuing of draft NAB materials where necessary with the objective of ensuring that there are no obstacles to schools and colleges going ahead with Advanced Higher Courses this year. Outstanding materials will be supplied to schools and colleges as soon as possible.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7646 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 19 June 2000, what form its monitoring took of the situation in relation to the marking of exam papers by the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

Mr Sam Galbraith: My officials held weekly meetings with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and were in more frequent telephone contact on all aspects of the process of producing examination results, including marking.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7646 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 19 June 2000, what steps it took to verify any assurances given by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) that the marking of exam papers by the SQA would be completed on time.

Mr Sam Galbraith: Assurances on marking offered by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) were probed by my officials during their frequent discussions with senior officials at SQA. Marking of examination papers was completed in sufficient time to enable results to be issued on the due date. Any failure by the SQA to issue certificates on the due date was attributable to factors other than the timing of completion of the marking of the examination papers.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7646 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 19 June 2000, whether it is satisfied that all exam papers have been marked consistently to the required standard.

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, whether it is satisfied that all persons employed by the Scottish Qualifications Authority as markers were appropriately qualified to perform that role.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The Scottish Qualifications Authority quality assurance procedures are set out in its Examiner’s Handbook. The independent inquiry which I am commissioning will examine whether there were any instances in which these quality assurance procedures were not followed.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which public relations consultancy has been engaged by the Scottish Qualifications Authority, when its contract starts and ends, what the value of the contract is and whether it was subject to competitive tendering.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The appointment of public relations consultants is an operational matter for SQA. I have asked the Chairman to reply to you and a copy of his reply will be placed in SPICe.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre all documents including letters, memoranda, reports and assessments relating directly or indirectly to the communications between the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Qualifications Authority concerning this year’s Scottish Examinations.

Mr Sam Galbraith: I would expect to make this information available to the Education Committee; it has decided to conduct an investigation into this year’s exam results.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was made aware by the Scottish Qualifications Authority of any delay in the recruitment of markers for this year’s exams and, if so, when.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The Executive became aware of concerns about the appointment of markers in June and discussed these immediately with the SQA.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) (a) commenced and (b) completed the issue of instructions to individuals to act as markers for this year’s exams and whether there was a delay in this work by the SQA and, if so, of what duration.

Mr Sam Galbraith: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority. I have asked the Chairman to reply to you, and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many persons who this year undertook for the first time the task of marker of Scottish examination papers did not attend the day-long markers’ meetings.

Mr Sam Galbraith: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority. I have asked the Chairman to reply to you, and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).

Scottish Qualifications Authority

David McLetchie (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many markers were used by the Scottish Qualifications Authority to mark this year’s Higher Grade Examination papers and what percentage of these markers had taught the course which they were marking in the last two years.

Mr Sam Galbraith: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority. I have asked the Chairman to reply to you, and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).

Sexual Abuse

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to allocate resources for the provision of additional residential places for victims of sexual abuse.

Mr Jim Wallace: It is for the NHS and local authorities to consider jointly, the very real and sensitive needs of this care group in the organisation of care provision and accommodation that meets the assessed needs of their area.

Substance Abuse

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many corporate action plans of drug action teams in Scotland refer to volatile substance abuse and what action drug action teams will be taking to address volatile substance abuse.

Angus MacKay: Following on from last year’s planning cycle with the Drug Action Teams, seven out of the 22 specifically refer to volatile substance abuse in their corporate action plans.

  Volatile substance abuse is seen as a high priority by the Executive, and we will be asking all 22 Drug Action Teams a specific VSA question on the year 2000 template, due to be issued in September. The returns in December will be analysed by the Public Health Directorate, which will consider what further action is required to tackle VSA across Scotland.

Substance Abuse

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many treatment programmes are available in Scotland which address volatile substance abuse and how many of these it funds.

Angus MacKay: According to the Scottish Drugs Forum’s Directory of Specialist Helping Agencies , there are approximately 85 treatment services available in Scotland which address volatile substance abuse. The Scottish Executive does not directly fund any of these services, but it core-funds the Scottish Drugs Forum which maintains a close interest on volatile substance abuse through the Scottish Volatile Substance Use Working Group. The Executive also supports the work of the Drug Action Teams which, as a point of their remit, are expected to address volatile substance abuse at local level.

Trade

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has prepared any contingency plans to deal with the possibility of the USA imposing tariffs on Scottish goods as a result of the US Carousel Act of May 2000.

Henry McLeish: We have been working closely through Scottish Trade International with the Scotland Office and the Department of Trade and Industry, to do all we can to avert the threat of US tariffs. We will continue to lobby hard until this dispute is resolved.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the costs of the public inquiry and planning appeal into the route of the City of Edinburgh Rapid Transit scheme will be met from funding already allocated to the project or from other public funds, what the anticipated costs are of these inquiries and who will meet these costs.

Sarah Boyack: Each party to the planning appeal process is required to meet its own expenses. The Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters Unit meets the cost of providing a Reporter and associated administration of the inquiry including advertising the inquiry arrangements and hire of the venue. The costs of the public inquiry and planning appeal into the route of the City of Edinburgh Rapid Transit scheme are therefore for the respective parties to meet. The extent of such costs will depend upon, for example, the number of parties involved; the complexity of the issues raised; and duration of the inquiry. The City of Edinburgh Council will not be able to use resources awarded under the Transport Challenge Fund to meet the cost of its participation in this inquiry.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support and encourage tram or light rail links to the Waterfront development at Granton.

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is or will be available for individuals and companies seeking to provide a tram or light rail scheme for the City of Edinburgh.

Sarah Boyack: I refer Mr MacAskill to my answer to question S1W-3450 on 7 February 2000.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to provide a breakdown of the current modal forms of access to its office at Victoria Quay.

Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the answer I gave on 22 November 1999 to question S1W-1943.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Holyrood Project

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will make available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre an unpriced copy of the construction management contract for the construction of the Scottish Parliament buildings at Holyrood.

Sir David Steel: The convenor of the Holyrood Progress Group is making arrangements to have an unpriced copy of the construction management contract placed in SPICE as soon as possible.

Holyrood Project

Ms Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer what information the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body gave John Spencely about the nature of Enric Miralles’ medical condition and his expected recovery time.

Sir David Steel: John Spencely’s report to the SPCB on the Holyrood Project was produced on 24 March 2000, five days prior to Mr Miralles’ surgery in America. The SPCB learned of Mr Miralles’ ill health on 4 April and therefore had no information to offer Mr Spencely about Mr Miralles’ medical condition or expected recovery time while he was compiling his report.

Holyrood Project

Ms Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will publish authenticated drawings, design sketches, diagrams and any other documentation on the Holyrood project produced by Enric Miralles between February and July 2000.

Sir David Steel: Along with his partners in EMBT-RMJM, Enric Miralles contributed to the formal Stage D (scheme design) drawings both before his illness, and during his period of recuperation following surgery in America. These drawings were approved by the client on 20 June 2000 and are available for inspection. The SPCB has no reason to seek any ancillary material from the architect in support of that submission.

Holyrood Project

Ms Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer who will replace Enric Miralles as Principal Architect in the contract between EMBT/RMJM and the Scottish Parliament.

Sir David Steel: The Holyrood Progress Group is currently leading discussions on the contract between EMBT/RMJM and the SPCB. An announcement will be made as soon as these discussions are concluded.